Local plastics company forms partnership to manufacture city's wheelie bins

1 October 2008

More than 1000 wheelie bins a day are rolling off a production line in Auckland destined for Christchurch and the city’s new Kerbside Collection for domestic waste.

The bins are being manufactured in a building which was part of the Fisher & Paykel Appliances East Tamaki factory by a new joint venture partnership between SULO MGB Australia and Christchurch-based Talbot Plastics.

Using state-of-the-art plastic injection moulding equipment, SULO Talbot will in the next six months deliver to Christchurch more than 400,000 wheelie bins for the city’s new three-bin Kerbside Collection being introduced in February/March 2009.

The facility incorporates some of the most highly automated equipment, including robotic handling of computer-controlled moulding machines and online dual lid hot-stamping machine for customised lid markings during production, says SULO Talbot Business Development Manager Karen Murray.

"This is a first for SULO, highlighting the brand’s innovation in remaining a market leader."

Talbot Plastics is an award-winning custom injection moulder which has been supplying the local market since 1972 with high-quality plastic components. The company operates more than 29 injection moulding machines and employs more than 100 staff.

SULO Australia operates one of the largest plastic injection moulding facilities in Australasia, located just north of Sydney the plant annually produces one million bins.

SULO’s managing director Michael Huston says the SULO Talbot partnership combines the strengths of two highly experienced plastic manufacturers. "Together, we aim to become the industry leaders in the provision of products and services that meet the waste and recycling needs of New Zealand."

Ms Murray says the joint venture partnership has enabled the re-opening of part of the old Fisher & Paykel plant and the employment of some former staff.

In Christchurch, the company will be employing 60 to 70 people on three to six-month fixed term contracts to deliver the bins from November 2008.

The first bins manufactured in Auckland were for Tasman District Council, Christchurch being the second and one of the largest contracts for the company.

Ms Murray says the Auckland operation has the capacity to service both the local market and support Australian production.

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